During the school term, Dr. Petri travels throughout the nation and has worked with over 26 schools to develop writing roadmaps for the year, develop writing curriculum, model and teach effective writiing instruction, and provide district-wide staff development. Her "Writing Road Map" is used as a curriculum scope and sequence by two Texas school districts. Dr. Petri currently lives with her husband Geza in a small rural village in upstate New York.
Experience   Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction M.S.- Reading Specialist Mid-Management certification Executive Director for Curriculum & Instruction K-12 Principal Teaching experience Pre/K-12 University instructor and Dept. of Ed. grant literacy coach Trainer for Independent Investigation Method (IIM) K-12 research program Literacy coach at Harlingen, Texas, area school district with Dryk & Associates Scholastic Inc. Literacy Consultant Gifted and Talented certification
References "Dr. Petri, Just to let you know our schools was in quartile 1 for overall value-added in writing compared to other HISD schools. The fourth grade teachers received a $400 aspire award for writing. The staff's hard work, especially the writing teachers through your guidance, made this possible."        --(Jesse Herra, Principal,Sanchez Elem, Houston ISD,  Houston, Texas, 2008). "Dr. Petri's efforts paid off. Our campus scores went up dramatically."  (Casey O'Pry,Principal, Stewart Elementary, Clear Lake, Houston, Texas, 2005 ) "Denise, our sessions with you last Monday were outstanding. Thank you for helping us come so far!" (Jessica Tracy, Literacy Specialist, Goose Creek Consolidated ISD, Baytown, Texas, 2008). After Dr. Petri's training sessions, our school achieved 94% mastery on the state mandated writing test!" (Katie Kyle, Principal of C.J. Harris Elementary School, Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005) "Dr. Petri is an outstanding presenter and trainer of teachers and administrators. There is no doubt in my mind regarding Dr. Petri's ability to effectively and successfully impact student achievement." (Beverly Walker, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Goose Creek ISD. 2005). "Dr. Petri's consulting work with Pearland schools has resulted in higher student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test for writing." (Dr. Brenda Waters, Executive Director for Elementary Schools, Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005). "Dr. Petri, Just wanted you to know I did the "Simple Man, "Compound Man," and "Complex Man" with my kids. They loved it! I have never seen anything so concrete to teach this abstract concept and it was wonderful." (Sharen Hales, Goose Creek Consolidated, Baytown, Texas, 2008). "It was a joy for you to share your wonderful ideas with us! We would LOVE for you to come back and inspire us again!" (Becky Clements, Rustic Oak second grade teacher, Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005). "Dr, Petri, we already implemented the lesson you modeled. My students were so excited about writing, we went ahead and wrote the same day." (Sondra Hammond, Rustic Oak first grade teacher,Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005). "The workshop was wonderful. I have been working on different ideas for centers. I am so excited about teaching writing because of the awesome ideas and literature you shared with us." (Jennifer Tisdale, Rustic Oak kindergarten teacher, Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005), "The expertise Dr. Petri brings to her training is complemented by her flexibility to meet the needs of staff and students." (Karen Engle, Principal at Silverlake Elementary, Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005). "Dr. Petri is well-versed on national standards in reading and writing and quickly establishes rapport with her audience whether it is students or teachers." (Dr. Janet Penner, Assistant Superintendent, Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas. 2005).	Are your students underachieving on their state writing assessments? Does your campus have a vertically aligned writing curriculum that ALL teachers understand and are implementing? Is the district's current writing plan working? Have you realized the potential of assessing student writing from the very first day of school? Do your students love to write? Do your teachers feel they have time to teach writing? Do your teachers love to teach writing? Are all stakeholders--parents, students, teachers, administrators, and Board members--clear about the connection between reading and writing skills and the requirements of your state writing assessment? Do you have a writing roadmap to guide your campus from the beginning of the year to the state writing assessment? Overwhelmed with mandates, federal assessment requirements, and local curriculum decisions? Contact Dr. Petri for assistance at dpetri@dpetriwritingconsultant.info.